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Report 2000 August: Machu Picchu--The "Inca Trail" Current Machu Picchu & The Inca Trail Information (as of August 25, 2000) See our Machu Picchu & The Inca Trail overview for more information about our next trip. Route & Conditions The Inca trail or the "Camino Inka" was in good shape this year, with reasonably dry trail conditions. Since many parts of trail are on a stone walkway, any muddy sections are usually avoided. Workers are improving the walkway in many places, and the stonework is impressive. The weather was moderate, and some rain showers were common in later afternoon and throughout parts of most nights. During the trekking days, sunshine was common along with magical mists that enhanced the already beautiful mountain views. Temperatures were warm and pleasant during the day, and in later afternoon evenings and nights, sweaters and down jackets were worn. The weather in Cuzco, which is located at around 11,200', was usually warm and pleasant during the day, and a bit chilly but refreshing during the evenings. Starting in August 2000, there will be limits on the number of trekkers on the Inca Trail, which will further improve the experience along the 25+ mile path. The new limits will also include increased permit fees for trekkers and porters. Mountain Experience Machu Picchu adventure trips will continue to include these sorts of costs in our trip pricing. Trip Report Eight trekkers successfully completed Mountain Experience's five day Inca trail trek, and were impressed with the beauty of the area and the uniqueness of trail, which was constructed as a rock path by the Inca people for most of the trail's length. Jason Edwards lead this year's trip, with Maximo Henostrosa assisting. Throughout the entire trip, Mountain Experience’s cultural interpreter, Carlos Alejandra, a Cuscuena resident and guide, shared the rich history of the area with our trekkers. Flowers of various types were seen, including orchids, begonias, and many others--which were all frequented by hummingbirds, some of which were quite large, by North American standards. The group hiked up through three challenging high passes, with elevations up to 12,400'. The vistas were "huge," with snow covering peaks as high as 19-20,000' looming in the distance. Snacks were passed out in the mornings, and lunchtime was typically a sit-down affair with chairs and tables. Hot soups warmed up trekkers if it was cold, in addition to a main course to fuel the remaining miles into camp. Along the way, several smaller Inca sites were visited, which topped off the trekking experience in a unique way. Since our trekkers carried only daypacks, they were left unencumbered to enjoy vistas and sites along the way (our team of fourteen friendly porters carried overnight gear and group equipment). It was nice to stroll into camp at the end of the day and have things fully set up by our experienced staff, from dining and cooking tents...to sleeping tents. Each camp was erected away from other teams when possible. Our skillful local cooks used fresh vegetables and meats each day to treat trekkers to delightfully prepared and wonderfully presented meals (vegetarian meals are available on most all Mountain Experience adventures). One of our exotic dinners included an avocado salad, fresh tomato soup, and a delicious wine and trout main entree, with a yogurt fruit salad to nicely finish off the meal. Coffee and tea, amongst other mealtime drinks were also served to complement the main dish. Full American breakfasts were the norm. A final addition to each camp included a small bathroom structure, which helped minimize our impact on the area and was nice to have when the weather was marginal and for more privacy. The group was rewarded for their impressive trekking efforts with three days of Machu Picchu exploration. The ruins were "spectacular," which was the word our group used throughout their visit of this awesome place. Intricate walls, stairways, water channeling, and huge agricultural terraces created sweeping views. The word "incredible" hardly covers what the Inca people constructed with meager tools during the years of 1470 to 1500. It is hard to believe they constructed so much in so little time. The group enjoyed their ample time to explore and wander about through the Inca walls with both organized tours and free time. Picture taking was a principle activity for many people in the group. Huayna Picchu, the steep peak that looms above the Inca ruins, was ascended by a majority of the group. The "summit climb" consisted of a steep trail with very steep rock stair steps, which were made safer with roped and cable guardrails in the more "exposed" places. Along the way and on the summit of this jungle like peak, there were excellent places to view the surrounding area. It was obvious the expansive Machu Picchu development has many places that are still awaiting excavating and further archeological discoveries. Other ruins were also explored by the group, including Pisac, Orientetamu, Sacsaywoman (pronounced “sexywoman”), Kembo, and many other smaller sites along the trail, in addition to tours of Cuzco's historically more important and interesting sites. Of particular interest to the group was "how" did the Inca's move such huge and heavy stones to build their tightly fitted walls, many of which were so tight it was impossible to even slip a piece of paper between the blocks! In-between visits to the ruins, the group rafted the famed Urubamba or Villicanota river, which gave a different perspective of the "Sacred Valley," which is the home of many Inca sites. The river was in good condition, and provided some fun and reasonable white water experiences. Our local and highly experienced Mountain Experience raft guides helped shepherded the group down the river in two rubber rafting boats and shared their knowledge of area in a fun and interesting way. Following our time on the trail and our cultural touring, the group spent several hours in the Cuzco Inca museum, which helped tie together many of the things learned "in the field." It was an incredible picture of craftsmanship, toil and effort. Afterwards, trekkers spent the remainder of the last day shopping for gifts in Cuzco's dozens of shops. Alpaca sweaters and blankets, trail maps, local books, watercolor paintings and Inca styled jewelry seems to be the "hot" topics throughout the afternoon. In the evening we celebrated our friendships and trip success in one of Cuzco's finer restaurants, and was highlighted by dancing, live Peruvian music, and a tasty birthday cake and song for one of our members. Trekkers joined the local Inca dancers towards the end of our celebration, which made for a most memorable evening. Our group blended well during the trip, and five of the trekkers were Mountain Experience alumni, with several other MX trips adventures to the credit. The 2000 Machu Picchu trek was a fantastic trekking and cultural experience, leaving members of the group with fond memories and looking forward to more Mountain Experience adventures in the future! Please see our Machu Picchu & The Inca Trail page for more information about future adventures. |
